Pond Plants

Don’t Do This When Winterizing Your Small Pond

For the water garden or small pond owner, plants, meaning desirable plants can be a very good thing.

They’re natural of course, and along with adding a natural appearance to a pond, they also do a lot of other good things. If you want to ward off algae, certain plants like lilies or hyacinths can be one of your best friends.

Other types of aquatic vegetation are used too, and some of these are even used in aquarium settings. Curly leaf pond weed, Hyrdilla, and even common Duckweed come to mind.

As a responsible pond owner however you should keep in mind that one person’s perfect plant, is another person’s (or community’s) nightmare.

This reminder from the Michigan State University Extension Service provides a good rundown on how to dispose of unwanted plants at seasons end. The one thing you don’t want to do is to “release” them into native waters where they may prove invasive. This goes for aquatic wildlife too.

Currently, around various parts of the country, and in may states, invasive species are causing a lot of problems on ponds, lakes, and streams. The type of plant will vary a bit depending on the location and climate, but nevertheless, the simple truth is most of these problems could be avoided by simply following the Extension’s advice on proper disposal methods and containment.

If one desires to be an environmentally conscious steward of the land, it’s the least we can do as pond owners.

Here’s an additional list from the USDA with more information on invasive aquatic species.

Don’t Treat Weed Problems In Late Summer And Fall

By Mark

There’s a question I get at this time of year which comes up often enough for me to want to address it here. And that is, “What should I treat duckweed, or other pond weeds with as we come into late summer and fall?”

It’s a reasonable question and one that deserves an honest and reasonable answer, which is…

Nothing at all.

I suggest to all of our clients that late season duckweed or weed problems are unfortunate but mid to late summer, or fall, is not the time to treat them. Particularly as the seasons get cooler, many of these aquatic weeds will go away all on their own. So a bit of patience can save you a lot of money if you’re smart about it.
[Read more…] about Don’t Treat Weed Problems In Late Summer And Fall

Pond Shading Options For Limiting Green Water Algae

By Mark

I have to admit, sunny days make me happier.

But everything comes with a price they say, and sometimes the price you pay for ample sunlight is pond algae.

In the case of green water, which is caused by numerous single cell algae, the sun can play a major role in it’s growth.

After visiting with many pond owners over the years, when we get calls about green water, one of the common questions we’ll ask is, “does the pond get a lot of sun exposure?” The inevitable answer is almost always, “yes”. Other pond owners that had several ponds were often quick to point out that the ponds in some shade, were often clearer, and the pond’s in the sun were quite green.

Now don’t get me wrong, you want your pond to be exposed to a bit of sun…that’s just a good thing for desirable plants and your fish too, but too much of a good thing can often cause some problems.
[Read more…] about Pond Shading Options For Limiting Green Water Algae

Dividing Water Lilies

By Mark

Water lilies have become one of the most popular pond plants for small pond owners and for good reason. They’re beautiful and functional in the sense that they provide shade for ponds that get a lot of sun (and we know how that can help with green water algae right?) and provide protection for your fish.

Working with lilies isn’t really that hard and with a few simple tips you’ll be on your way.

This week I wanted to share a video with you that will cover just that.

My friend Gord Nickel has been a professional horticulturalist for almost 30 years and in this short piece you’ll learn the basics of how to divide a water lily and the best way to repot it for placement in your pond.

Fall Pond Preparation – Plants

By Mark

Pond plants are a wonderful addition to any pond and we’ve talked about all of the benefits of having them. However as fall approaches many folks wonder what to do with them. The video below will help a bit in this effort and maybe clarify a few things that will make your fall pond preparation a bit easier.

[youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz4bzzJjhp8[/youtube]

Got any other fall pond plant tips? Share them below if you’d like!

Fall And Winter Pond Plant Care

By Mark

One of our loyal readers kindly reminded me that I failed to mention anything about pond plants as we get into fall and winter.

My apologies!!!

Keep in mind though that in most cases throughout the summer, my main mission is to keep a particular plant out of the picture…but we’re not talking about pond algae control today.

And before I fall asleep in blissful hibernation…here’s a video with a few tips on caring for your desirable pond plants in the fall and winter.

[youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz4bzzJjhp8&feature=youtube_gdata[/youtube]

Now this video is very basic and not comprehensive by any means but it should help a few folks that may wonder about such things.

Like any good gardener, a pond owner should get to know more about the specific plants they prefer to have in their pond. Are they hardy, marginal, or tropical? And they should get some idea of their temperature zone using a plant hardiness zone map or other resource such as this one from the National Arboretum.

It’s also a good idea to have a plan ahead of time in terms of what you might want to do with your plants coming into the fall. Whether you leave them in the bottom of the pond, cover the pond in some protective way, bring them indoors, or simply discard them and plan again for next spring is a personal decision based on what you may want to do and what you can get away with in terms of conditions.

If you’ve had any experience in working with your pond plants over the fall and winter, please share your thoughts below.

They are always very much appreciated!